Another former trooper goes for Volker's seat

If Pat Gallivan has his way, residents of New York’s 59th Senate District will have another former State Police member representing them. Currently serving on the state Parole Board, Republican Pat Gallivan, like retired GOP Sen. Dale Volker, has worked for the State Police. Gallivan has also served as Erie County Sheriff.

Gallivan was just on Susan Arbetter’s Capitol Pressroom where he was quizzed about his hard-fought primary battle and about a third party opponent in the form of Tea Party candidate David DiPietro as well as Democrat Cynthia Appleton.

The western New York Tea Party is one of those spots in the state where a candidate actually started a line by the same name rather than aligning with the Republicans of Conservatives. One of the players here is Jim Ostrowski who is best known in other parts of New York for his lawsuit challenging pork barrel economic development grants. He has helped start the region’s Tea Party.

While he’s in a three-way race, Gallivan may have one thing in his favor; he’s got the Conservative and Indepence lines as well as the Republican ballot slot.